Liu had recently been awarded a "distinguished clinician" award at the children's hospital. (University of Chicago Medicine)

(Newser)
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After a career spent saving children's lives as a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Donald Liu's final act was to rescue two boys from Lake Michigan. Liu, chief surgeon at the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital, raced to the rescue when he saw the boys struggling after being knocked out of their kayaks by high waves, reports the Chicago Tribune. He managed to get the two 12-year-old boys to safety, but was dragged underwater by a rip current. His wife, also a surgeon, frantically performed CPR on him, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Colleagues describe the 50-year-old doctor as a dedicated surgeon with world-class expertise. "He was a tireless, selfless physician," said a university official. "He'd wake up at 2am to save a child from a gunshot wound, sleep for two hours and then be back here at 6am to do rounds and elective surgeries." Liu will be buried wearing his surgical scrubs and holding a White Sox baseball and pictures of his three children.

Wonderful man. I'm sorry his family had to lose him but losing him as a hero is better than any other way, I suppose. Too bad the percentage who tagged this story as "Hilarious" didn't go under instead of The Good Doctor.

keith44

Aug 7, 2012 1:32 PM CDT

What a beautiful human being, who counted his life as nothing compared with his deep and overwhelming desire to save and serve others. My sincerest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. May the magnificence of his giving be a light in our hearts.